It took regulators more than four years to rein in Mahmood. Before they acted, he allegedly submitted more than $1 million in fraudulent billings to the government, and substandard care at his chain of small-town Texas hospitals led to multiple patient deaths.

Warnings reached multiple levels of government, including criminal investigative units and taxing entities. But agencies were slow to take action and often didn’t share information. It wasn’t until this year that they began to crack down on Mahmood.

Top health regulators weren’t even aware Mahmood owned several hospitals until The News sought information about them earlier this year. Regulatory agencies aren’t set up to track problem hospital owners or hold them accountable. Nor do they look for patterns of care breakdowns inside hospital chains.

“Mahmood. Top health regulators weren’t even aware Mahmood owned several hospitals until The News sought information about them earlier this year.”

I’ve seen plenty of media reports that have then prompted local or state or federal government action that was stagnant before the issue gained public scrutiny. Let’s not forget that government works as much as it is stimulated by the public.